Guaranteed to be one of the best meteor viewing opportunities each year, the Perseid meteor shower is upon us.

The Perseids are so named because the meteors appear to emanate from the constellation Perseus, the Medusa-killing hero of Greek mythology

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Last year's event was particularly impressive. With up to 200 meteors recorded per hour, scientists called 2016's shower an outburst. Another outburst was recorded in 2009.

Sadly, the stars won't be shining quite as brightly this year.

The moon, which will be three-quarters full at the time of the peak, will rise around 11 p.m. meaning the spectacle will be more difficult to see, according to Space.com.

However, the moon's glare won't make the shower impossible to see.

Best time to look at the sky

Stargazers seeking the best view of the Perseid meteor shower should wait until August. While the window for this year's shower is from July 17 to August 24, the peak will occur around Aug.11 - Aug. 13.

The best time to see the Perseids is between midnight and dawn.

Best place to view the shower

When picking a place to view the Perseids, try to find a dark location far away from stray lights.

Allow about 45 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark. Lie on your back and look straight up.

"The longer you wait outside, the more you'll see. A rate of 150 meteors per hour, for instance, means two to three meteors per minute, including faint streaks along with bright, fireball-generating ones."

If you live in a major city, here is a list of some of the best places city dwellers can view the Perseid meteor shower.